Mallotus discolor is an Australian rainforest

Rainforest

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...

 tree in the spurge family

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti....

. It is known as the Yellow Kamala, due to the yellowish orange fruit covering, which produces a yellow dye.

Description

A small to medium sized tree, often around 12 metres tall. However, at Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve

Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve

Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve is a 21 hectare sub tropical jungle remnant of the Big Scrub. Far less than one percent of the original Big Scrub now remains...

 near Lismore

Lismore, New South Wales

Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...

 there is a 30 metre tall Yellow Kamala with an 50 cm broad trunk. Another 30 metre tall tree grows at Susan Island Nature Reserve

Susan Island Nature Reserve

Susan Island Nature Reserve is a rare example of sub tropical lowland rainforest. Situated on the Clarence River, New South Wales, it comprises 18 hectares, 16.5 hectares of which is rainforest....

, this individual has a 80 cm broad trunk. The natural range of distribution is from just west of Coffs Harbour (30° S) in northern New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 to Bowen, Queensland

Bowen, Queensland

Bowen is a town on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Bowen had a population of 7,484.-Geography:Bowen is located on the north-east coast of Australia, at exactly twenty degrees south of the equator. In fact, the twentieth parallel crosses the main street...

 (20° S).

Trunk is not buttressed. The bark on older trees may have some cracks and scales. Generally fairly smooth.
Small branches slender, green or brown with reddish hairy growth towards the end.

Leaves feature long stems, variable in length but usually between 4 to 10 cm. Leaves alternate on the stem, without leaf teeth, lanceolate or ovate in shape with a long tip. Leaves fairly thin, 4 to 10 cm long. The underside is greyish, upper surface green, almost hairless. Hence the species name discolor meaning two colours.

Flowers, fruit and regeneration

Grey flowers form in November on raceme

Raceme

A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...

s, 7 to 10 cm long. The fruit matures in January, being a moist capsule with a yellowish orange covering. Capsule around 6 mm in diameter. Fruit eaten by Green Catbird

Green Catbird

The Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris is a species of bowerbird found on subtropical forests along the east coast of Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Its colouring is emerald green, with faint black markings on the face and white streaks on the neck.Green...

, Lewin's Honeyeater

Lewin's Honeyeater

The Lewin's Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii, is a bird that inhabits the ranges along the east coast of Australia. It has a semicircular ear patch, pale yellow in colour.The name of this bird commemorates the Australian artist John Lewin....

, Grey-headed Flying Fox

Grey-headed Flying Fox

The Grey-headed Flying-Fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, is a megabat native to Australia.Members of the genus Pteropus include the largest bats in the world. The Pteropus genus has currently about 57 recognised species....

and others.

Regeneration from fresh seed is erratic, cuttings are an alternative method of regeneration.